The Filton site specialised in scientific satellites and their computer software.

The first Argentinian scientific satellite, whose main goal was the study of solar physics and astrophysics.

The main use, he added, would be for launching small scientific satellites measuring about three by four feet.

The Proton was a model of Soviet scientific artificial satellites.

"We see no technology roadblocks at all," he said, adding that it would be much cheaper to build than an orbiting scientific satellite.

The scientific satellite is to be retrieved by the astronauts six days later for the trip home.

The price of the shuttle in scientific terms has been essentially a decade of no scientific satellites.

Ofek 2 was officially described as an experimental scientific satellite, but press reports suggested that it could also be used to gather military intelligence.

Launches of government payloads, including military, civilian and scientific satellites, is the largest market segment at nearly $100 billion a year.

The scientific satellite was improperly positioned shortly after being released from the shuttle earlier in the day.